Ashmore islands

Although Ashmore’s first settler was in 1826, it wasn’t until several years later that this small town in Central Illinois officially became a town.  It was in 1855 when Ashmore was first surveyed as a town.  It was still another five years before the town had its first meeting.  On April 3, 1860 Ashmore held the first ever town meeting in which the first elected officers would be nominated and voted on.  Those men include:  M. W. Barnes as town supervisor, James M. Austin as clerk, George Hogue as town assessor, B. F. Cutler as collector, Richard Childress as overseer of the poor, R. Reed as the commissioner of the high ways, C. K. Honn  as Justice of the people, George Burr as constable, C. D. Phelps as town moderator and J. S. Brown as another town clerk.  O. D. Hawkins was voted as the first police magistrate some years later  (Coles County IL, 200). Although today many of these elected chairs have been removed there are still several people active in Ashmore’s government.  The mayor, or village president, Mick Griffith oversees the work of six trustees who are:  Terry Davis, Jim Schwartz, Brian Watson, Mike Dunnifer, Carol Bradford, and R. Richy.  The town clerk/treasurer is Tami Ogden.  Dave Scrader, who is in charge of water and other daily activities of the town, is known as the village supervisor  (Griffith). Re-election for some of the offices is quickly approaching.  On January 8, 2001, three board member positions and the clerk will be up for re-election.  Elections are done through nominations of a person, then a vote between those nominated.  Terms for offices are of four years.  In 2003 the other three board member positions and the mayor will be up for re-election  (Griffith). Ashmore is a fairly small town of a population of 400-425 in the early 1900’s.  History books state that the population isn’t far off from that still today  (Coles County IL).  Being such a small town there is no Police Department or Fire Department.  Although this would seem to cause a problem when the need for a policemen arouse, Mayor Griffith says that’s not the case.  When needed, which the mayor stated isn’t often, the town of Ashmore will call in the Coles County Police Department to handle its criminal needs  (Griffith). In 1954 the Ashmore Community Club voted to pay all expenses involved in forming a volunteer Fire Protection District for all of Ashmore Township.  This vote proceeded the first fire truck in Ashmore on May 13, 1955.  That same year the Ashmore Fire Station was dedicated to the town  (Coles County IL).  Still today the town Fire Department is made up of volunteer firemen who give their free time to help save the lives of others.